Societal and political developments in 2022 made it abundantly clear how important the internet has become to our everyday lives – it allows us to work, attend school classes, and shop from home. And its importance has reached entirely new dimensions during the war in Ukraine – for many refugees and other victims, it represents the only way to communicate with their families and receive warnings against impending attacks. But online communication also has its downsides. In uncertain times, fake news and conspiracy theories spread even more widely, and more and more people find themselves facing hate speech and marginalization.
For us, media literacy is the key to safe and competent use of digital media. But media literacy alone cannot ensure that people interact harmoniously, and treat each other with respect, in the digital world. For this reason, we believe that media literacy has to go hand-in-hand with democratic competence. We therefore work, through a wide range of projects and initiatives, to promote trust and informed formation of opinion, and to combat marginalization and online hate speech.
Teachtoday Our Teachtoday” initiative supports children, young people, parents and grandparents, and educational staff by providing hands-on tips and materials about safe, proficient media usage. The materials are available at www.teachtoday.de in seven languages (German, English, Croatian, Montenegrin, Polish, Romanian, and Hungarian).
Digital learning plays a particularly important role now that digital schooling and remote learning have become an even bigger part of students’ day-to-day lives. The continually expanding digital toolbox, which was published in 2020 and now comprises over 100 different formats, including product ideas, video tutorials, and fascinating quizzes, is designed for adults who have contact – either in schools, in learning groups, or in their own private lives – with children and young people between the ages of 9 and 16.
Teachtoday also has its own YouTube channel, on which it presents short, catchy videos about safe, proficient internet use, along with complete workshops on subjects such as how to use the toolbox.
SCROLLER SCROLLER, an online magazine for children aged nine to twelve, teaches media literacy using age-appropriate language. With its new, interactive web format, the magazine has a completely up-to-date look and feel, and it is suitable, as a learning and reading tool, both for solitary use and for group exercises. Via the additional SCROLLER EDU+ area, which links directly with the magazine’s features, teachers can access background information and learning resources for classroom and online instruction.
In June 2022, both the Teachtoday initiative and the SCROLLER online magazine for kids were each awarded the Comenius EduMedia seal in the “Primary education” category. The Comenius EduMedia distinction has been awarded since 1995 by the Society for Education, Information, and Media (Gesellschaft für Pädagogik, Information und Medien e.V., GPI) to recognize didactic multimedia products that are outstanding in terms of their educational approach, content, and design.
#TAKEPART stories Our #TAKEPART stories initiative highlights socially relevant aspects of digitalization, from a practical perspective, and transforms them into modules that multipliers can use in workshops. The stories/modules are aimed at adults of all ages, from young adult to senior. The initiative highlights ways to use the internet responsibly, and it encourages critical discussion about this subject.
A special feature of the initiative is that the multipliers who use it do not have to be experts on the subjects concerned; we provide presentation resources for all workshops, along with moderators’ guides and background information. As a result, the workshops are easy to carry out. Consequently, the initiative supports our aim of ensuring that everyone can participate in the opportunities that digitalization provides. The content is developed in didactic formats, implemented in innovative modules. The modules are available in German, English, and simplified language, and are tailored to various workshop durations.
The #TAKEPART stories include various modules on the focus topics gaming and civil courage, along with modules on other digital-world topics, such as digital friendships, life in the city of the future, as well as data protection and security.
Promoting digital competence As part of EU Code Week (only available in German), and in cooperation with Apple, we invite young people and teachers to immerse themselves in the world of app development. In workshops and interactive events, participants learn how to develop and implement app ideas. Code Week, which is supported by the European Commission, took place for the 10th time from October 7 to 24, 2022.
We cooperate with various universities, with a view to supporting current research and promoting digital literacy. For example, via Telekom Laboratories (T-Labs), we finance several endowed chairs at TU Berlin which are oriented to the teaching of digital topics. Also, at the CODE University of Applied Sciences in Berlin, we have established a professorship for software engineering (with a focus on blockchain technology).
Startupnight is one of the largest annual events in Europe at which startups can network and present their ideas and business models to companies, investors, and potential customers. Startupnight, an initiative of Deutsche Telekom, is promoted primarily by hubraum, Deutsche Telekom’s technology incubator. hubraum also offers a periodic event: in our “meetups”, we meet every month with industry experts, startups, and investors to talk about an innovative, technology-related topic. In the framework of our TechBoost program, we support startups (especially in connection with financing issues), offer expert knowledge, and provide access to our technical resources and customers.
During the reporting year, T-Mobile Polska launched a nationwide awareness campaign called “Confident on the Net.” Topics of the campaign include threats in cyberspace, such as phishing, fake news, and disinformation. It also explores the topics of data security, privacy, and security on the internet.
DIGITAL@School In our Group-wide DIGITAL@School initiative, we support children engaged in active, self-reliant efforts to help shape the digital age. Some 500 DIGITAL@School volunteers are giving their time to schools, and other educational institutions, in a range of in-person and online assistance formats. With age-appropriate approaches, they are helping to inspire children to take an interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) subjects and in programming languages. In addition, they teach skills that children need in order to use digital media responsibly. At the end of 2021, the initiative received the #GoodMagenta label for its work. The initiative was launched in 2017 as IT@School. It then grew throughout the Group, and was renamed DIGITAL@School at the end of 2021. In the reporting year, the initiative was recognized by the IT Executive Club with the ITEC Cares award in the category “Corporate commitment.”
Seniors with good online skills As part of our efforts to ensure that everyone can take part in digital society, regardless of their age, we offer special equipment and products for seniors. The resources available for facilitating seniors’ use of digital technologies include big keyboards, uncluttered displays, with large fonts and icons, and emergency-call buttons. In addition, we are working, in cooperation with the German National Association of Senior Citizens’ Organisations (BAGSO) to promote media literacy among seniors and have lent our support as a partner to the Goldener Internetpreis (Golden Internet Prize; only available in German), which has been awarded since 2012. The prize is awarded to committed individuals, initiatives, and municipalities that are working to inspire seniors to go online – and to assist them in doing so.
In another effort in this context, we are serving on the advisory board of Digital-Kompass (only available in German), a joint project of BAGSO and the association DsiN (Deutschland sicher im Netz e.V. – Germany secure online). Digital-Kompass provides resources and digital “round table” meeting formats for internet guides who help seniors navigate the online world.
In cooperation with the German Senior Citizens League (DSL), we have produced a guidebook entitled “Digital inclusion – age is not an issue” (“Digital dabei sein – Keine Frage des Alters”; only available in German). In clear, straightforward language, the brochure covers a range of relevant topics, such as “How to set up a fast, secure internet/Wi-Fi connection,” “What rates are available?” and “How can I ensure that my data is safe?” The guidebook also explains where one can find support – including learning resources, and pertinent services – and it provides tips on how to use digital media.
In addition to our online activities, we also organize offerings locally. Within the framework of our Seniors’ Academy, for example, we hold seminars and workshops on using digital devices on the premises of cooperating associations, to help seniors who are unfamiliar with the technology to get started in the digital world.
During the reporting year, our national companies also made efforts to help seniors share in the benefits of digitalization. As part of the ENTER digital education program, Slovak Telekom launched a support program called “Ready for the digital age”, which focuses on developing digital literacy among senior citizens. It covers subjects like using smartphones and computers, digital communications, and teaching of programming skills.
T-Mobile Czech Republic teamed up with Czech police organizations and the ministry of the interior to initiate a project called “Click for Peace,” which is intended primarily for seniors. As one of the project elements, information material on using the internet was developed and distributed in libraries, hospitals, and doctors’ offices It also produced short videos that can be seen on social media, on the project’s website, and on monitors in doctors’ offices and waiting rooms.
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Promoting media literacy and democratic competence
Societal and political developments in 2022 made it abundantly clear how important the internet has become to our everyday lives – it allows us to work, attend school classes, and shop from home. And its importance has reached entirely new dimensions during the war in Ukraine – for many refugees and other victims, it represents the only way to communicate with their families and receive warnings against impending attacks. But online communication also has its downsides. In uncertain times, fake news and conspiracy theories spread even more widely, and more and more people find themselves facing hate speech and marginalization.
For us, media literacy is the key to safe and competent use of digital media. But media literacy alone cannot ensure that people interact harmoniously, and treat each other with respect, in the digital world. For this reason, we believe that media literacy has to go hand-in-hand with democratic competence. We therefore work, through a wide range of projects and initiatives, to promote trust and informed formation of opinion, and to combat marginalization and online hate speech.
Teachtoday
Our Teachtoday” initiative supports children, young people, parents and grandparents, and educational staff by providing hands-on tips and materials about safe, proficient media usage. The materials are available at www.teachtoday.de in seven languages (German, English, Croatian, Montenegrin, Polish, Romanian, and Hungarian).
Digital learning plays a particularly important role now that digital schooling and remote learning have become an even bigger part of students’ day-to-day lives. The continually expanding digital toolbox, which was published in 2020 and now comprises over 100 different formats, including product ideas, video tutorials, and fascinating quizzes, is designed for adults who have contact – either in schools, in learning groups, or in their own private lives – with children and young people between the ages of 9 and 16.
Teachtoday also has its own YouTube channel, on which it presents short, catchy videos about safe, proficient internet use, along with complete workshops on subjects such as how to use the toolbox.
SCROLLER
SCROLLER, an online magazine for children aged nine to twelve, teaches media literacy using age-appropriate language. With its new, interactive web format, the magazine has a completely up-to-date look and feel, and it is suitable, as a learning and reading tool, both for solitary use and for group exercises. Via the additional SCROLLER EDU+ area, which links directly with the magazine’s features, teachers can access background information and learning resources for classroom and online instruction.
In June 2022, both the Teachtoday initiative and the SCROLLER online magazine for kids were each awarded the Comenius EduMedia seal in the “Primary education” category. The Comenius EduMedia distinction has been awarded since 1995 by the Society for Education, Information, and Media (Gesellschaft für Pädagogik, Information und Medien e.V., GPI) to recognize didactic multimedia products that are outstanding in terms of their educational approach, content, and design.
#TAKEPART stories
Our #TAKEPART stories initiative highlights socially relevant aspects of digitalization, from a practical perspective, and transforms them into modules that multipliers can use in workshops. The stories/modules are aimed at adults of all ages, from young adult to senior. The initiative highlights ways to use the internet responsibly, and it encourages critical discussion about this subject.
A special feature of the initiative is that the multipliers who use it do not have to be experts on the subjects concerned; we provide presentation resources for all workshops, along with moderators’ guides and background information. As a result, the workshops are easy to carry out. Consequently, the initiative supports our aim of ensuring that everyone can participate in the opportunities that digitalization provides. The content is developed in didactic formats, implemented in innovative modules. The modules are available in German, English, and simplified language, and are tailored to various workshop durations.
The #TAKEPART stories include various modules on the focus topics gaming and civil courage, along with modules on other digital-world topics, such as digital friendships, life in the city of the future, as well as data protection and security.
Promoting digital competence
development. In workshops and interactive events, participants learn how to develop and implement app ideas. Code Week, which is supported by the European Commission, took place for the 10th time from October 7 to 24, 2022.
As part of EU Code Week (only available in German), and in cooperation with Apple, we invite young people and teachers to immerse themselves in the world of app
We cooperate with various universities, with a view to supporting current research and promoting digital literacy. For example, via Telekom Laboratories (T-Labs
), we finance several endowed chairs at TU Berlin which are oriented to the teaching of digital topics. Also, at the CODE University of Applied Sciences in Berlin, we have established a professorship for software engineering (with a focus on blockchain technology).
Startupnight is one of the largest annual events in Europe at which startups can network and present their ideas and business models to companies, investors, and potential customers. Startupnight, an initiative of Deutsche Telekom, is promoted primarily by hubraum, Deutsche Telekom’s technology incubator. hubraum also offers a periodic event: in our “meetups”, we meet every month with industry experts, startups, and investors to talk about an innovative, technology-related topic. In the framework of our TechBoost program, we support startups (especially in connection with financing issues), offer expert knowledge, and provide access to our technical resources and customers.
During the reporting year, T-Mobile Polska launched a nationwide awareness campaign called “Confident on the Net.” Topics of the campaign include threats in cyberspace, such as phishing, fake news, and disinformation. It also explores the topics of data security, privacy, and security on the internet.
DIGITAL@School
(science, technology, engineering, mathematics) subjects and in programming languages. In addition, they teach skills that children need in order to use digital media responsibly. At the end of 2021, the initiative received the #GoodMagenta label for its work. The initiative was launched in 2017 as IT@School. It then grew throughout the Group, and was renamed DIGITAL@School at the end of 2021. In the reporting year, the initiative was recognized by the IT Executive Club with the ITEC Cares award in the category “Corporate commitment.”
In our Group-wide DIGITAL@School initiative, we support children engaged in active, self-reliant efforts to help shape the digital age. Some 500 DIGITAL@School volunteers are giving their time to schools, and other educational institutions, in a range of in-person and online assistance formats. With age-appropriate approaches, they are helping to inspire children to take an interest in STEM
Seniors with good online skills
As part of our efforts to ensure that everyone can take part in digital society, regardless of their age, we offer special equipment and products for seniors. The resources available for facilitating seniors’ use of digital technologies include big keyboards, uncluttered displays, with large fonts and icons, and emergency-call buttons. In addition, we are working, in cooperation with the German National Association of Senior Citizens’ Organisations (BAGSO) to promote media literacy among seniors and have lent our support as a partner to the Goldener Internetpreis (Golden Internet Prize; only available in German), which has been awarded since 2012. The prize is awarded to committed individuals, initiatives, and municipalities that are working to inspire seniors to go online – and to assist them in doing so.
In another effort in this context, we are serving on the advisory board of Digital-Kompass (only available in German), a joint project of BAGSO and the association DsiN (Deutschland sicher im Netz e.V. – Germany secure online). Digital-Kompass provides resources and digital “round table” meeting formats for internet guides who help seniors navigate the online world.
In cooperation with the German Senior Citizens League (DSL
), we have produced a guidebook entitled “Digital inclusion – age is not an issue” (“Digital dabei sein – Keine Frage des Alters”; only available in German). In clear, straightforward language, the brochure covers a range of relevant topics, such as “How to set up a fast, secure internet/Wi-Fi 
connection,” “What rates are available?” and “How can I ensure that my data is safe?” The guidebook also explains where one can find support – including learning resources, and pertinent services – and it provides tips on how to use digital media.
In addition to our online activities, we also organize offerings locally. Within the framework of our Seniors’ Academy, for example, we hold seminars and workshops on using digital devices on the premises of cooperating associations, to help seniors who are unfamiliar with the technology to get started in the digital world.
During the reporting year, our national companies also made efforts to help seniors share in the benefits of digitalization. As part of the ENTER digital education program, Slovak Telekom launched a support program called “Ready for the digital age”, which focuses on developing digital literacy among senior citizens. It covers subjects like using smartphones and computers, digital communications, and teaching of programming skills.
T-Mobile Czech Republic teamed up with Czech police organizations and the ministry of the interior to initiate a project called “Click for Peace,” which is intended primarily for seniors. As one of the project elements, information material on using the internet was developed and distributed in libraries, hospitals, and doctors’ offices It also produced short videos that can be seen on social media, on the project’s website, and on monitors in doctors’ offices and waiting rooms.
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Annette ReuterAsk our expert: